A week-long operation across the US against child sex trafficking has resulted in the rescue of almost 170 children and the arrest of 281 pimps, according to the FBI.

The law enforcement operation represents the latest effort on
behalf of the FBI’s Innocence Lost program, which since its 2003
creation has resulted in the recovery of some 3,600 children who
faced sexual exploitation. In addition to arrests and child
recoveries operations have resulted in 1,450 criminal
convictions, 14 life in prison terms and the seizure of over $3.1
million.

"These are not children living in some faraway place, far
from everyday life,” FBI Director James Comey said in
announcing the law enforcement sting, which is known as Operation
Cross Country.

The massive anti sex-trafficking push was executed via
partnerships between the Bureau and other law enforcement,
including local and state police. The FBI currently operates 70
Child Exploitation Task Forces throughout the country.

According to Comey, one of the most disturbing dimensions to
child sex trafficking is the increasing prevalence of online
prostitution. Moreover, many of the children who were rescued
during the latest sting were never reported missing.

The latest operation encompassed recovers and arrests in 106
cities, targeting casinos, truck stops, as well as websites
advertising dating and escort services. Fifty-four FBI field
divisions took part in the raids, along with the National Center
for Missing & Exploited Children, underscoring the resources
necessitated in identifying at-risk minors and collecting
necessary evidence to file charges and intervene.

"Operation Cross Country reveals that children are being
targeted and sold for sex in America every day," said John
Ryan, president and CEO of the National Center.

The largest number of recovered minors occurred in Denver. In one
instance a 19-year-old man was arrested for physically abusing a
16-year-old runaway after she had failed to collect enough money
from her “dates,” reports USA Today. The girl had been taken from one
hotel to the next and told to perform sex acts, and was too
afraid to escape.

In Oregon, meanwhile, authorities recovered one child and
identified 20 adult prostitutes, some who had been involved in
sex trafficking since the age of 13 or 14, according to the FBI's
Portland office.